HYDERABAD: Students and activists staged hunger strikes at multiple locations across Telangana on Thursday, protesting the police action against students demonstrating at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Protests were held at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad, Osmania University and Satavahana University in Karimnagar, drawing participation from student organisations, women’s groups, transgender persons, activists and senior citizens.
According to the organisers, around 500 students took part in the protest at Dharna Chowk, with several joining the hunger strike. Representatives of senior citizens’ and women’s organisations also extended their support.
“We are supporting this protest because this is not just about one examination. Students spend years preparing for competitive examinations, and they should be able to trust the system conducting them. If there are serious allegations of irregularities, there must be accountability and a transparent investigation,” a student participant said.
Another student said the demonstrations would continue until their concerns were addressed. “Students protesting peacefully should be heard, not subjected to force. We want an examination system in which merit is protected and every student gets a fair opportunity,” the student said.
Social activist Prof. Rama Melkote addressed the gathering at Dharna Chowk and condemned the alleged police action against protesting students in Delhi. She said the determination shown by the students was encouraging and recalled the role student movements had played globally in bringing about political and social change. Independent journalist and social activist K. Sajaya and singer Chinmayi Sripaada also visited the protest venue and expressed solidarity with the students.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Telangana Rakshana Sena (TRS) student wing launched indefinite hunger strikes at Osmania University in Hyderabad and Satavahana University in Karimnagar, protesting the alleged police crackdown on students demonstrating in Delhi over the NEET paper leak.
The protesters demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for the alleged examination paper leak. They also sought action against police personnel over the handling of the Delhi protests and demanded justice for the 21 students who, they claimed, had died by suicide following the controversy.
